Leucanthemumplant named ‘Whitecap’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Leucanthemum  plant named ‘Whitecap’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and upright flowering stems; early, freely and continuous flowering habit; large single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets and large central yellow-colored disc; flower development that doesn&#39;t require vernalization; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Leucanthemum x superbum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WHITECAP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Leucanthemum plant, botanically known as Leucanthemum x superbum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Whitecap’.

The new Leucanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Leucanthemum plants with a compact mounded habit, continuous flowering habit, numerous attractive single-type inflorescences and good garden performance.

The new Leucanthemum plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2015 of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘White Magic’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,737, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Leucanthemum x superbum as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Leucanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif. in March, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Leucanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in Arroyo Grande, Calif., since April, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Leucanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Leucanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Whitecap’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Whitecap’ as a new and distinct Leucanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   4. Early, freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Large single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray         florets and large central yellow-colored disc.     -   6. No vernalization requirement for flowering.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘White Magic’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more compact and mounding         than and not as tall and upright as plants of ‘White Magic’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have single-type         inflorescences whereas plants of ‘White Magic’ have semi-double         inflorescences.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can be compared to plants of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Snowcap’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differ from plants of ‘Snowcap’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more vigorous than plants         of ‘Snowcap’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum flower about two weeks earlier         than plants of ‘Snowcap’.     -   3. Plants of the new Leucanthemum flower more continously than         plants of ‘Snowcap’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have larger inflorescences         than plants of ‘Snowcap’.     -   5. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not require vernaliztation         for flowering whereas plants of ‘Snowcap’ require vernalization         for flowering.     -   6. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not produce any detectable         fragrance whereas plants of ‘Snowcap’ produce the foul fragrance         typical of Leucanthemum plants.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can also be compared to plants of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differ from plants of ‘Becky’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more vigorous than plants         of ‘Becky’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum flower about two weeks earlier         than plants of ‘Becky’.     -   3. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have larger inflorescences         than plants of ‘Becky’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not require vernaliztation         for flowering whereas plants of ‘Becky’ require vernalization         for flowering.     -   5. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not produce any detectable         fragrance whereas plants of ‘Becky’ produce the foul fragrance         typical of Leucanthemum plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Leucanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Leucanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Whitecap’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Whitecap’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in one-gallon containers during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Leucanthemum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 16° C., night temperatures averaged 13° C. and light levels averaged 2,500 foot-candles. Plants were 19 weeks old when the photographs were taken and 20 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Whitecap’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Leucanthemum x superbum ‘White             Magic’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,737.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Leucanthemum x             superbum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at soil             temperatures about 27° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at soil             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at soil temperatures about 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at soil temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, semi-fleshy;             typically creamy white to light brown in color, actual color             of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense; rapid root system             development. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; relativly             compact, upright and mounded plant habit; vigorous growth             habit; moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with             about 10 to 15 primary branches each with numerous secondary             branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 32.5 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 31 cm.         -   Branch description.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter, at the             base: About 6.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm to             2.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 30° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple; sessile.             Length: About 9.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Shape:             Oblanceolate to oblong. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Serrate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Venation pattern:             Prominent midvein; reticulate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to 146A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146B. Fully developed leaves, upper             surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 147B. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B;             venation, close to 146A to 146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Large single-type inflorescences with             lanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences held upright on strong peduncles,             inflorescences face mostly upright; ray and disc florets             develop acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—Plants begin flowering about twelve             weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the             spring into the summer in California.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for several weeks on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit, about 48             inflorescences develop per plant during the flowering             season.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 3 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.25 cm.             Color: Close to 144B to 144C.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Flattened sphere. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 36 arranged             in a single whorl. Length: About 3.2 cm. Width: About 7 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute or emarginate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire; distally, slightly undulate.             Aspect: Somewhat twisting; reflexing. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to             NN155D; color does not change with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D; color does             not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 320 massed             at the center of the receptacle arranged in numerous whorls.             Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Fused             tubular. Apex: Acute, five-pointed. Texture and luster,             inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: When opening and fully opened, inner surface: Close             to 12A; color does not change with development. When opening             and fully opened, outer surface: Close to 14A; color does             not change with development.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 42             arranged in about three whorls. Length: About 7.5 mm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Lanceolate. Base: Fused.             Margin: Entire, membraneous. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to             144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter, at the base: About             6.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 30° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity per floret: Five per disc floret. Filament             length: About 4.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C. Anther             shape: Roughly rectangular. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 10A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen             color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Present on ray, trans and             disc florets. Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About             5 mm. Stigma diameter: Close to 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 12A to 12B. Style length:             About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 154C to 154D. Ovary color:             Close to 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Leucanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Leucanthemum     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Leucanthemum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Leucanthemum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind and     rain, to tolerate temperatures ranging from −15° C. to 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Leucanthemum plant named ‘Whitecap’ as illustrated and described. 